RBOB gasoline
RB · NYMEX · futuresRBOB and a wholesale fuel benchmark
RBOB futures follow a specified gasoline blendstock market on NYMEX. The RB series is quoted in USD per gallon. This is a wholesale contract reference rather than a final pump price in any particular country.
A retail fuel price also includes further blending or processing, distribution, taxes and dealer costs. Currency conversion can create another difference for buyers outside the US.
Driving demand and refinery capacity
Travel patterns and seasonal driving affect demand. Specification changes and scheduled refinery work can influence the availability of particular deliveries. Plenty of crude oil does not guarantee the same availability of a finished product.
The spread between gasoline and WTI helps describe refinery conditions, but it is not a complete measure of every refinery’s costs or profit.
Comparing fuel markets
Gasoline and ULSD can react differently within the same season. Corn adds context for ethanol production. The continuous RB chart can include contract-roll differences. Its volume counts futures contracts, not gallons sold to drivers, and should be compared over consistent periods.
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